The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-05
COMMISSION MEN.
ADVICE TO ORANGE GROWERS.
The Crop Compared With other Farm and Orchard
Products-The Market Must vary-Fiorida
Competitors The Fruit Exchange.

Mr. Hind kindly hands us the follow
ing from Messrs. G.. l.. Palmer * Co, the
leading fruit house of Baltimore:
Mr.. Thos. Hind. Georgetown, Fla:
DEAR SIR-Allow us to thank you for
the Palatka NEWS, which we read with
much interest. Your letter in said paper
sets forth very clearly many of the
troubles and disappointments of the fruit
growers, which will have its ups and
downs like all other business. All lines
of business have their bright and dark
sides. All who deal i'm merchandise will
have heavy losses at times on their ac-
cumulated stock. 1t is not always their
fault. but simply the chances of business.
The growers complain that they cannot
make money unless they get about $3.50
to 81 90 per box net for their fruit. We
do not suppose they can get rich in one
season, unless they have a very large
grove. 1t seems that grower with only
a few hundred trees expects to realize
enough off those few hundred trees to
support and furnish with luxuries his
family of ten or a dozen children. Say
Il grower Ca small one), has five hundred
trees. ten to- fifteen years old: they yield
two boxes to- the tree: he gets
$50 net: he has an in
come of ST., 500: he has only lad
about six acres of land to- work which
can be done with the help of one hired
man; he gets about $3.50 per acre. which
il a a.,..l xri.lI 4 oi,-.
little incident that occurred here a few
days ago: A farmer living in the upper
part of this State started to market with
a load of hay of three tons (clover), it
il took him day AMI u half To come
here with six mules to the wagon. he
this he and his driver had to live three
days. The toll on the turnpike was
$40. The mules had to be stabbed and
fed; by the time the farmer reached
home he only had 50. The clover seed
sown to raise that three tons of hay
(Which represents three acres of ground
cost go, thus leaving So, or 81 per acre
to pay for harvesting and all other ex-
penses attending the housing of the hay,
etc. So you see that Florida farmers are
not the only ones who have to suffer.
The growers of oranges. generally. do
not seem to realize that there are causes
which compel the fruit to- bt, lower one
season than another. Take this season
and they tell us that they
have only IA little over half
crop and ought to get two
prices for it. We admit there is short
crop and at the same time assert that the
crop is of IA very inferior quality. not only
in color but in flavor. There has been
little or no sweet fruit, but ten times as
many russets ~ usual. These are rea-
sons for low prices. and other causes are:
First. West India fruit is of superior
quality and quantity this season, and
selling at $40 PEE thousand in our mar
kets. but we know of retailers of or
anges who usually sell large quantities of
Florida fruit who have discarded
it altogether this season and han
died nothing but West India fault.
Second, Sicily fruit plays II very inn
portant part in the fruit business of this
country. The boxes are larger than Flor
idas, the fruit is always bright. but sour.
we admit; but the huckster ON the street
and the vender in the market house cry
out at the top of their Voice sweet Flor
MIA Oranges - The non judge of oranges
buys the fruit, pays for ii and takes il
home, and it must be consumed The
retailer thus doubles the profit he would
make ON genuine Florida fruit
Third. Spain furnishes large quantities
of oranges. The fruit is very hand
some, being of a very dark orange color
and uniform in size and sells for about
half the price of good Floridas. 1t is
sour like the Sicily. but sells readily On
account of its color
Now. the average Florida writer SAYS
what is the crop of F1orri,la. when vou
come To think of $4,000 600 of p..opl,. To-
To be supplied: Do they ever think that
California shuts out Florida hevond the
Mississippi. thus closing the mouths of
millions ? Are there not millions this
side of that great river living in obscure.
places who never see AN orange. and
other millions in our thickly settled
States and large cities who barely make
enough To- supply their families with the
necessities of life: We venture To saw if
the entire orange-eating population Of
the country. who consume the Florida.
West India. Sicily and Spanish fruit,
exceed fifteen to twenty million souls,
we do not think the growers should be
discouraged. for the writer while in
Florida heard some of the shrewdest
growers say that if they could get fifty
cents per 100 for their fruit net they
could make money at the business.
We have said nothing about the Ex-